Social Sciences

The Parthenon sits atop a platform that is curved into a subtle hill shape that some say makes the structure appear straighter—but is that true?

The pages come from a copy of Mirror of the Blessed Life of Jesus Christ that once belonged to John Gage, an enforcer in Henry VIII’s court and a key figure in the historical dissolution of the monasteries

Rachel Feltman joins Vox’s Unexplainable to discuss the enduring mysteries that continue to challenge science

Experts say free lunch for every child improves academic performance. Whether it does is murky, according to a Scientific American analysis, but there are definite financial and social benefits

Science in meter and verse

Play this crossword inspired by the October 2026 issue of Scientific American

Some questions may never be answered, but maybe that’s not the point

Smallpox eradication; skyscraper excavations; research on the racetrack

Letters to the editors for the May 2026 issue of Scientific American

The biggest questions in science inspire us even when we lack answers

Will some of the biggest mysteries in science remain forever unsolved?

Assistant professor of psychology Jessica Ayers’s new research challenges assumptions about the kind of friendships we need